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Bill would halt oil activity near Lake Peigneur

Bill would halt oil activity near Lake Peigneur

Advocate photo by MARK BALLARD -- State Sen. Fred Mills, R-St. Martinsville, before he presented his bill Thursday that would stop the state from issuing new permits to expand salt domes around Lake Peigneur. A Senate committee advanced the measure for consideration by the full Senate.Advocate photo by MARK BALLARD -- Russel Honore preparing Thursday to testify in support of legislation calling for a moratorium for work around Lake Peigneur.

“This time we have a real chance,” he said after the committee voted. Mills, who has introduced similar legislation in earlier sessions, said he took the advice of some opponents to last year’s attempt and tailored the bill narrowly to apply only to Lake Peigneur. Versions forwarded in earlier years were worded too broadly, he said.

SB584 would forbid the state Office of Conservation from authorizing or issuing any permits for a cavern for storage or waste disposal in Vermilion or Iberia parishes. The moratorium applies only to salt structures that have “structurally failed if that failure was man-made.”

The moratorium would not be permanent and could be lifted if the Legislature agrees, Mills said.

In 1980, a drilling rig pushed through the top of a salt mine and punched a hole in the bottom of the lake, draining the water and dragging barges into the suction. The volume of the water triggered a backflow from the Delcambre Canal that created a temporary waterfall and transformed the lake from a freshwater fishing hole into deep, brackish waters.

Mills said the two salt domes are about the size of the Twin Towers of the former World Trade Center in New York City. Oil and gas officials say the whole structure, which includes the two caverns, is about the size of Mount Everest.

AGL Resources, of Atlanta, have been trying to expand its operation at Lake Peigneur since 2006.

“There is no intention to hurt the oil and gas industry,” state Sen. Jonathan Perry, R-Kaplan, said. “We’re trying to be a conduit for the voices of our constituents.”

Both the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry and the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association opposed the legislation.

He said he also represents Targa Resources. The Houston corporation is looking to expand its activities in the Lake Charles area, but this legislation could influence that job-creating decision, Baumann said.

How can a state that so vocally opposed a moratorium on offshore drilling, yet be OK with limiting expansion at the salt domes, Baumann asked.

A crowd of residents had gathered to testify.

“We’re not asking for a red light. We’re asking for a caution light,” said retired Army Gen. Russel Honoré, testifying for the Green Army, a coalition of environmental groups.

During the speech of one supporter, Mills chatted with senators on the committee. He then quickly whispered into the ear of a resident waiting to speak. When her turn came, she said she and the others would skip making statements.

Mills said some of the senators who supported the legislation were going to have to leave and he wanted to make sure the vote took place before they left.